Display means for tool handles



June 28, 1960 N. LINK DISPLAY MEANS FOR Toor. HANDLES Filed Aug. l2, 1957 lll F/ q INVENToR. /Vormcm fn/f pended handles;

2,942,832 DISPLAY MEANS non Toor. HANDLES Zorman Link, Salem, Ind., assignor to 0. P. Link Handle Company, Inc., Salem, Ind., a corporation of Indiana med Aug. 12,i957,sua-1510'.'6r/,ssa`

3 Claims. (Cl. 248309) My invention relates to merchandise display means and relates particularly to a device for displaying replacement handles for hammers, axes, and the like.

In displaying replacement handles for sale, it is desirable that they be grouped according to size and shapein such a way as to be easily examined by the customer. Furthermore, it is important that each handle be readily -removable from the display yrack and that the entire display take up as little space as possible.

The most commonly used method of displaying handles and, heretofore, the most practical means consists of suspending them from a slotted frame by means of rooting nails which have been driven into the ends thereof. This method is clearly set forth in Letters Patent No. 2,269,310 to B. G. Hollander. issued January 6, 1942.

There are several undesirable features in this means of display. In driving a nail in the end of thehandle, there is always a danger of splitting or damaging it. Wooden wedges are required for most handles in securing them to a tool, and the above method necessitates keeping various size wedges in a separate place for sale with each handle. Furthermore, considerable time must be spent in driving the nails in order to assemble this display.

It is an object of my invention to provide a means of display which eliminates the need for nails, hooks, or other devices to be driven into the handles.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means for displaying handles which is simple and easy to assemble.

Still another object of my -invention is .fto provide a Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a tool handle suspendedV for display;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the handle of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side plan view showing a plurality of sus- Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the handle assembled with a tool.

My invention comprises, primarily, a rigidly mounted, substantially horizontal projecting rod, a handle having a transverse slot `in the shank thereof, and an apertured wedge adapted to be driven into said transverse slot. By inserting the wedge a shorrt distance into the slot and threading it onto the rod, a tool handle of theV type described can be readily and conveniently hung for display. When the head of a tool such as a hammer is telescoped over the handle shank, the wedge is adapted to be driven completely Within the slot to spread the patented June 2s, 1960 separate portions vof the shank to eiect a rigid, frietional attachment between the head and the handle.

Referring now to the drawings, in all of which like parts are designated by like reference characters, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, at 10 I lshow a handle, preferably manufactured of wood or other suitable material, having a lowermost grip portion 11 and an uppermost shank 12. The shank 12 is transversely slotted at 13, and a wedge 2 0 is'partially inserted within said slot. Y'lhe wedge 20 projects upwardly beyond the shank 12 and is apertured at 21.

The assembled handle y10 and wedge 20 are suspended by means of a peg or rod 25, 4said rod projecting horizontally outwardly fromany suitable anchoring means such as a frame member 26 of a display rack. The aperture 21 of the wedge 20 is substantially larger than the rod 25 whereby said Wedge is threaded upon said rod to suspend the handle -10 therefrom. 'I'he wedge 20 is inserted in the slot 13 with only sufficient force to frictionally support the handle 10 and is readily removable by manually pulling it out. The handle 10 is provided by the manufacturer with the apertured wedge 20 of correct size already inserted in the slot 13 whereby said handle can be easily and quickly put on display by a merchant.

In Fig. 5 I show (the shank 12 telescopically interfltted with a tool head 30 at the eye 31 of said head. The apertured wedge 20 is driven into the slot 13 whereby the shank 12 is forced outwardly to frictionally engage the inner surface of the eye 31 and tightly secure the head 30 to the handle 10.

It will be noted that the aperture 21 is substantially centrally located in the wedge 20. 'Phe substantially centrally located aperture 21 which I haveillustrated and described herein does not weaken the wedge for its use in assembling a tool head to the shank of a handle, projects above the shank when used with a support rod for tools and hence is preferably so located.

The novel feature of my invention is the provision of an apertured wedge adapted to frictionally engage the slot of av handle shank either by partially or completely inserting 'it therein. When pantially inserted, it is adapted to be used in combination with a horizontally projecting rod for display of the handle and when fully driven, it is adapted to secure a tool head upon a replacement handle. y

It will be readily understood that a plurality of handles 10 could be suspended upon a single rod 2S as is well shown in Fig. 4. A handle can be removed from said rod simply by pulling it outwardly from the rack without disturbing other handlesrwhich are on display. The purchaser may then remove the wedge and use it in the conventional manner for securing the handle to the Work portion or head of a tool.

It will be further understood that many departures from the details of my invention as it is herein described and illustrated may be made, such as changes in size and dimension, without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A wooden handle for a tool adapted to be used as an article of display and subsequently as a replace` ment handleV for the work head of a tool, said handle having a transversely slotted shank, an apertured wedge frictionally engaging the slot of said handle, a support member having a rod projecting outwardly therefrom and inserted in said aperture, said wedge inserted within said slot a suicient distance whereby it frictionally sup-V y Yhandle Vfer the work head -of al tool,V said'handle having VWithjirsaid slot'a slight distance' fo 'frictionally' support d'l'ejsivvei'glitn of said handleV Whenv'saidfve'dg andhandle arried'therebyV is threadedlufmn.saidsrod,` the said wedge mentv with .said shank',

3.- A Wouden handle for atol adaptedto 15e-used as an article of'dis'play and subsequently as a replacement handle for the Work heaclfsfV a1 tool, saidj handlecom- Pasing a grip para@V and a shank, said shank having a .transverse slot therethrough, a; wedge having an aperture therein, said wedge being frictionally engaged with the said slot of the said yhandle at Ithe end of said shank to dispose the VVaperture of the said wedge beyond the edge of said shank, said wedge subsequently upon withdrawal thereof being forcefully driven into the said shank of the said handle.

References Cited in the le of patent UNITED STATES PATENTSl 1,065,122 Frasher s June 17, 1913 1,293,332. VCartier' Feb. 4, 1919 2,246,692 Ohme f June 24, 1951 

